Born Rodothas Hamilton in Leesburg, Georgia on April 16, 1929, Roy Hamilton was
a singer best known for his two R&B chart toppers “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
(1954) and “Unchained Melody” (1955) and for being one of Elvis Presley’s
greatest influences. Seamlessly blending pop, showtunes, jazz, and gospel, Roy
Hamilton created a style that was uniquely his own. After his family moved to
New Jersey while he was in his teens, he began singing in a gospel choir while
also pursuing commercial art in high school. At the age of 17, he won a talent
contest at the Apollo Theater but could n...